The cold rain began to pour down, at first as a light drizzle, then a steady down pour. The sharp drops fell onto Felix, staining his light brown coat to a heavy black mass. Felix looked up at the sky, the rain stinging his face, running down his cheeks like tears. Felix looked around the empty playground, at least he had thought it was empty, he caught a glimpse of a figure huddled under the slide, he recognized the woman as Madame Maureen, the fortune teller. Felix wondered if it was his imagination, he wasn't too sure of his sanity at this point. Felix thought it better to leave her be, she looked peaceful, and he didn't wish to disturb her.
Felix walked passed the slide, the rain muffling the crunch of mulch under his feet. As he walked down the alley, he heard the screech of a siren approaching the playground. Felix blocked out the incessant noise and continued down Rouse to the bus stop next to the entrance of the tunnel that had served as his home for so long. Through the years Felix had collected coins here and there, he wasn't one for begging, but if people saw him sitting by the road, they would throw a quarter, sometimes a dollar, at his feet. Felix estimated he had enough to get to the next state. Maybe he could find another tunnel and start over.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Final Confrontation
"I am you."
Felix stared at the man in disbelief, he thought he must have heard incorrectly. Felix said with a little less determination, "what did you just say?"
"I'm you, Felix. I've always been here, but this is the first time you've actually been aware of me."
The man continued to smile at Felix in an almost patronizing way, and as Felix stared back, looking deeply into his eyes, the man seemed to become transparent, almost as if Felix could see right through him. Felix looked down at his feet, trying to gain his composure, reassuring himself that this was not a dream, and when he looked up, the man was gone. Felix felt an odd feeling of freedom, almost as if a weight on his life had been lifted.
Felix stared at the man in disbelief, he thought he must have heard incorrectly. Felix said with a little less determination, "what did you just say?"
"I'm you, Felix. I've always been here, but this is the first time you've actually been aware of me."
The man continued to smile at Felix in an almost patronizing way, and as Felix stared back, looking deeply into his eyes, the man seemed to become transparent, almost as if Felix could see right through him. Felix looked down at his feet, trying to gain his composure, reassuring himself that this was not a dream, and when he looked up, the man was gone. Felix felt an odd feeling of freedom, almost as if a weight on his life had been lifted.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Felix awoke to a slight chill, a result of the cold night air being blown in by the north wind. There was a throbbing pain in Felix's head, and he couldn't tell how long he had been asleep. He remember drifting off after the crowd had dispersed and there was finally silence above his tunnel, but at the same time he was exhausted and felt like he had gotten no rest at all. Felix struggled to his feet, disoriented by the strange memory loss. He walked up the steps onto Rouse Blvd. attempting to remember what had happened the night before. As he turned down towards the bank he felt an odd wave of deja vu. Felix turned towards the bank and noticed that the door seemed slightly ajar. Wondering why the alarm wasn't going off, he approached the bank's entrance and peaked in the window. The safe had been shot at and the indentations of the bullets made a circular pattern around the large metal door. A gleam caught Felix's gaze, and as he looked down to its source, he saw a very familiar hand gun. Felix reached down to his pocket, only to find it empty. He stared in disbelief at the weapon, moonlight making it shine menacingly on the bank floor. Felix had no recollection of ever being in the bank, even during the day, seeing as he had no use for a bank account. He backed away from the door and turned and ran.
Felix found himself in the park behind Jupiter Apartments and exhausted, he collapsed onto the nearby bench. Felix racked his brain for a reason his gun may have been used in an attempted robbery. And as his thoughts spun in circles, Felix noticed a shadow approaching him from behind. He spun around and saw, looming behind him, the same man who had given him the gun on that seemingly normal day. Felix backed away from the bench, stumbling onto his feet. He wavered before the man, and for the first time in his life said with strong determination: "Who are you? What do you want?" The man smirked and said in a calm, yet forceful voice...
To Be Continued...
Felix found himself in the park behind Jupiter Apartments and exhausted, he collapsed onto the nearby bench. Felix racked his brain for a reason his gun may have been used in an attempted robbery. And as his thoughts spun in circles, Felix noticed a shadow approaching him from behind. He spun around and saw, looming behind him, the same man who had given him the gun on that seemingly normal day. Felix backed away from the bench, stumbling onto his feet. He wavered before the man, and for the first time in his life said with strong determination: "Who are you? What do you want?" The man smirked and said in a calm, yet forceful voice...
To Be Continued...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
One Crazy Day
Felix twirled the gun in his hand nimbly, he was surprise how comfortable he felt with the strange metal weapon, and as a rat scurried across his path, he pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. *BANG*, the sound echoed throughout the tunnel, and Felix was temporarily stunned. He didn't think the gun was loaded; but what was even more bewildering, was that he had hit the rat, head on, from about 10 feet away! Felix dropped the gun, and stared jaw-dropped at the blasted remains of the small creature.
Felix was awoken (he hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep) the next morning by a ruckus from above. He slowly got up, and looked down at the gun staring back at him. He picked it up and stuck it in his one of the pockets of the large overcoat he wore year-round. The gun felt odd banging up against his belt, and Felix wasn't used to having something to carry. He wasn't like the other bums, he didn't feel the need to burden himself with possessions. Felix heard a faint bang from above, much like the one the gun had produced the night before, and he quickly checked the gun to make sure it hadn't gone off. But, it still lay in his pocket innocently looking up at him.
Felix made his way up the stairs onto Rouse, and just as he had stepped into daylight, a car rushed by, almost taking off his toes. Felix looked around only to see Donald holding his calf, blood running down towards his foot, a small puddle staining his shoes. Felix stared blankly as a crowd of people filled the streets. Tara ran across Felix's path from the pub, she glanced at him and gave a soft smile, before rushing towards the growing group of people. Felix stood away from the group observing, there seemed to be a lot of people out today, something had been happening at the Jaguar dealership, and everyone seemed to migrate from there. Felix stuck his hand in his pockets, fingering the gun lightly, careful not to touch the trigger, when he saw a man creep out from the alleyway, Felix thought he looked suspicious, but didn't pay much heed, no one else had noticed. The small city had become swarmed with police and as one passed by, Felix heard something on the radio attached to the officer's shoulder about a guy who escaped from the town jail. Felix happened to look up, and saw, on top of the bank some guy screaming about being Jesus, everyone turned and stared, and as Felix headed back into his tunnel he wondered if he was the only sane person in this city.
Felix was awoken (he hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep) the next morning by a ruckus from above. He slowly got up, and looked down at the gun staring back at him. He picked it up and stuck it in his one of the pockets of the large overcoat he wore year-round. The gun felt odd banging up against his belt, and Felix wasn't used to having something to carry. He wasn't like the other bums, he didn't feel the need to burden himself with possessions. Felix heard a faint bang from above, much like the one the gun had produced the night before, and he quickly checked the gun to make sure it hadn't gone off. But, it still lay in his pocket innocently looking up at him.
Felix made his way up the stairs onto Rouse, and just as he had stepped into daylight, a car rushed by, almost taking off his toes. Felix looked around only to see Donald holding his calf, blood running down towards his foot, a small puddle staining his shoes. Felix stared blankly as a crowd of people filled the streets. Tara ran across Felix's path from the pub, she glanced at him and gave a soft smile, before rushing towards the growing group of people. Felix stood away from the group observing, there seemed to be a lot of people out today, something had been happening at the Jaguar dealership, and everyone seemed to migrate from there. Felix stuck his hand in his pockets, fingering the gun lightly, careful not to touch the trigger, when he saw a man creep out from the alleyway, Felix thought he looked suspicious, but didn't pay much heed, no one else had noticed. The small city had become swarmed with police and as one passed by, Felix heard something on the radio attached to the officer's shoulder about a guy who escaped from the town jail. Felix happened to look up, and saw, on top of the bank some guy screaming about being Jesus, everyone turned and stared, and as Felix headed back into his tunnel he wondered if he was the only sane person in this city.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Mysterious Meeting
Felix didn't sleep that night. He lay awake in his tunnel listening to the mice and rats mingle and the cold wind blowing past the entrance. At around five, Felix stood up and dizzily looked around his tunnel. He processed the events of the previous night, contemplating whether or not the mysterious man in the church was actually real. Felix shuffled out of his tunnel pulling his raggedy jacket closer to himself as he headed out to Rouse Blvd.
The streets were empty this early in the morning, and as he plowed through the snow towards the deserted playground he wondered if he was the only one in town. When Felix arrived at the playground he wasn't surprised to find he was the only one there, he was still quite early. Felix stared into the perfect white snow that blanketed the ground, too new to be destroyed by footprints and sleds from children's play. Felix sat in a daze until he heard the light crunch of footsteps behind him. He turned and found standing with a smirk the man he had met in the church the night before. Felix didn't feel the need to say anything, but looked curiously at the brown paper bag the man held in his hands. The man sat down on the bench next to Felix, placed the bag on the ground, stood up, and left. Felix stared after the man as he disappeared into the sunrise, the light reflecting off the snow and blinding him momentarily.
Felix looked down at the bag for awhile, he then found himself picking up the bag and walking off towards the alley that led back the Rouse. As Felix made his way in a daze down the alley he noticed a woman approaching from the opposite direction. She tensed when she saw him and looked visibly nervous. Felix tried his best not to make any sudden movements and when they passed he whispered a soft greeting, then made his way hurriedly passed, not knowing what her reaction would be. Surprisingly, she turned to him and asked if he was hungry. Till that point Felix was not aware of his growing hunger, and looked back at the stranger with an affirmative look. The woman nodded understandingly and walked back towards him muttering softly about a diner up the street.
Felix sat in the warm diner looking around at the bright lights and comfortably decor. He stole a glace at the lady sitting across from him, not quite sure what he was supposed to do. A waitress appeared with two mugs of steaming coffee and a couple of menus. June, who only now mentioned her name to Felix, told him he could order anything he liked. Felix looked at the jumble of words on the plastic book with glazed eyes. June, understanding Felix's confusion told the waitress to bring them a couple plates of pancakes with some bacon on the side. Felix and June sat in silence until their food was ready than ate without a word. After June had paid the bill, they stood up and made their way out of the diner, each going their separate ways, Felix hadn't said a word to her, but gave her a look of thanks as he headed off towards his tunnel.
Felix didn't know how to react to the strange woman, no one had ever done something so nice for him, I mean sure there would be the occasional passer-by who would give him some spare change, but normally people were weary to spend more than a few seconds in his presence.
In the mist of all that had happened, Felix had completely forgotten about the mysterious man and the paper bag that Felix still grasped tightly in his hand. And when Felix returned to his tunnel, he sat down and opened the bag only to discover it contained a hand gun.
The streets were empty this early in the morning, and as he plowed through the snow towards the deserted playground he wondered if he was the only one in town. When Felix arrived at the playground he wasn't surprised to find he was the only one there, he was still quite early. Felix stared into the perfect white snow that blanketed the ground, too new to be destroyed by footprints and sleds from children's play. Felix sat in a daze until he heard the light crunch of footsteps behind him. He turned and found standing with a smirk the man he had met in the church the night before. Felix didn't feel the need to say anything, but looked curiously at the brown paper bag the man held in his hands. The man sat down on the bench next to Felix, placed the bag on the ground, stood up, and left. Felix stared after the man as he disappeared into the sunrise, the light reflecting off the snow and blinding him momentarily.
Felix looked down at the bag for awhile, he then found himself picking up the bag and walking off towards the alley that led back the Rouse. As Felix made his way in a daze down the alley he noticed a woman approaching from the opposite direction. She tensed when she saw him and looked visibly nervous. Felix tried his best not to make any sudden movements and when they passed he whispered a soft greeting, then made his way hurriedly passed, not knowing what her reaction would be. Surprisingly, she turned to him and asked if he was hungry. Till that point Felix was not aware of his growing hunger, and looked back at the stranger with an affirmative look. The woman nodded understandingly and walked back towards him muttering softly about a diner up the street.
Felix sat in the warm diner looking around at the bright lights and comfortably decor. He stole a glace at the lady sitting across from him, not quite sure what he was supposed to do. A waitress appeared with two mugs of steaming coffee and a couple of menus. June, who only now mentioned her name to Felix, told him he could order anything he liked. Felix looked at the jumble of words on the plastic book with glazed eyes. June, understanding Felix's confusion told the waitress to bring them a couple plates of pancakes with some bacon on the side. Felix and June sat in silence until their food was ready than ate without a word. After June had paid the bill, they stood up and made their way out of the diner, each going their separate ways, Felix hadn't said a word to her, but gave her a look of thanks as he headed off towards his tunnel.
Felix didn't know how to react to the strange woman, no one had ever done something so nice for him, I mean sure there would be the occasional passer-by who would give him some spare change, but normally people were weary to spend more than a few seconds in his presence.
In the mist of all that had happened, Felix had completely forgotten about the mysterious man and the paper bag that Felix still grasped tightly in his hand. And when Felix returned to his tunnel, he sat down and opened the bag only to discover it contained a hand gun.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Just Another Day
Felix sat in his tunnel, he hadn't had a good night. He thought back to the man he had "met" in the middle of the night, he wasn't sure if it was a dream or not. The sun began to rise, and the light streamed into the tunnel entrance. Felix liked the day time, the world seemed alive, and Felix didn't feel so lonely. He heard the light patter of footsteps and saw Sidda walking down the steps. It was the same routine every morning, Sidda would scurry through the tunnel looking nervous, yet trying to appear calm, as if she wasn't repulsed by the damp, rat infested passage. Sidda's anxiety didn't bother Felix however, once in a while she would leave short poems for him. She was unaware that Felix couldn't read, but he enjoyed them all the same. It was nice to have some human contact once in a while.
It seemed to be about eight, so Felix decided to head to the diner, sometimes he could find some half-way decent leftovers in the dumpster. It's amazing how much food people waste, Felix thought to himself as he headed down Polaski Ave. It was cold, and Felix had to avoid the patches of ice that lined the sidewalk. He noticed a somewhat lost looking woman traveling down Polaski, she looked to be heading towards the theater. Felix didn't approach her however, he was aware that he made people uncomfortable and nervous, so Felix pretty much kept to himself.
After eating his breakfast, Felix went about his daily activities. Normally he would go to the playground behind Jupiter Apartments, and sit and watch the kids with their parents, until one of the parents started looking edgy, then Felix would leave. He really didn't want to make people anxious, he just liked being around others, it made him feel human.
In the evening, when it was too cold to stroll the streets, Felix would go to the local church, across from his tunnel. The door would always be open, and he could go inside and sit for awhile. Felix wasn't particualy religious, but the church was quiet and warm, so he enjoyed the time he spent there.
Typically, Felix was left alone, but today a strange man came and sat beside him. Felix continued to look at his feet, trying to keep to himself, but the man didn't leave. Felix thought it odd, most people would try to avoid him, so he stole a glace, and with surprise, recognized the man as the same man who had shown up in his tunnel the night before. Felix turned towards the man and with a curious tone asked him, "Do I know you?" The man grinned from ear to ear and replied, "Not yet." Felix ruffled his eyebrows and stared at the man, studying his face, but the man didn't hesitate, and after a few minutes stood up and turned toward the aisle, as he was shuffling through the benches, he looked back at Felix and with a sly look told him, "meet me at the park you usually go to at 6am tomorrow." Felix nodded absently, and turned back towards the front of the church. For the rest of the evening, Felix contemplated what he should do about the mysterious man.
It seemed to be about eight, so Felix decided to head to the diner, sometimes he could find some half-way decent leftovers in the dumpster. It's amazing how much food people waste, Felix thought to himself as he headed down Polaski Ave. It was cold, and Felix had to avoid the patches of ice that lined the sidewalk. He noticed a somewhat lost looking woman traveling down Polaski, she looked to be heading towards the theater. Felix didn't approach her however, he was aware that he made people uncomfortable and nervous, so Felix pretty much kept to himself.
After eating his breakfast, Felix went about his daily activities. Normally he would go to the playground behind Jupiter Apartments, and sit and watch the kids with their parents, until one of the parents started looking edgy, then Felix would leave. He really didn't want to make people anxious, he just liked being around others, it made him feel human.
In the evening, when it was too cold to stroll the streets, Felix would go to the local church, across from his tunnel. The door would always be open, and he could go inside and sit for awhile. Felix wasn't particualy religious, but the church was quiet and warm, so he enjoyed the time he spent there.
Typically, Felix was left alone, but today a strange man came and sat beside him. Felix continued to look at his feet, trying to keep to himself, but the man didn't leave. Felix thought it odd, most people would try to avoid him, so he stole a glace, and with surprise, recognized the man as the same man who had shown up in his tunnel the night before. Felix turned towards the man and with a curious tone asked him, "Do I know you?" The man grinned from ear to ear and replied, "Not yet." Felix ruffled his eyebrows and stared at the man, studying his face, but the man didn't hesitate, and after a few minutes stood up and turned toward the aisle, as he was shuffling through the benches, he looked back at Felix and with a sly look told him, "meet me at the park you usually go to at 6am tomorrow." Felix nodded absently, and turned back towards the front of the church. For the rest of the evening, Felix contemplated what he should do about the mysterious man.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Felix, The Tunnel Under Rouse Blvd.
Felix opened his eyes slowly, they were heavy with sleep and cold. He pulled the Daily Post over his chest attempting to warm himself. Felix lay on his back facing the domed ceiling of the tunnel in which he lived. By the darkness of the night, Felix estimated the time to be about half past midnight, one learns these things after living outside for years. He closed his eyes for the twentieth time that night, and as he drifted off to sleep he listened closely to the incessant dripping of water from the ceiling into a puddle below. A rat scampered across Felix's toes, yet he did not flinch. Felix had become accustomed to sharing his home with the lovely little creatures.
About an hour later, Felix awoke to a sound he did not recognize. He sat upright and looked around, however it took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark. When finally Felix was able to see, he turned around and with a look of confusion noticed a man sitting on a ledge staring at him with a mysterious smirk on his face. The man was not exceptionally interesting or unique. He was of average height, average weight, and looked to be about about 40. He had brown hair and from what Felix could tell in the darkness of the tunnel he had brown eyes. The only remarkable thing about this man was the smug look and devilish gleam in his eyes as he inspected Felix.
About an hour later, Felix awoke to a sound he did not recognize. He sat upright and looked around, however it took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark. When finally Felix was able to see, he turned around and with a look of confusion noticed a man sitting on a ledge staring at him with a mysterious smirk on his face. The man was not exceptionally interesting or unique. He was of average height, average weight, and looked to be about about 40. He had brown hair and from what Felix could tell in the darkness of the tunnel he had brown eyes. The only remarkable thing about this man was the smug look and devilish gleam in his eyes as he inspected Felix.
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